The Lacock Archive Research Group
Some years ago the Burnet Brown family of Lacock Abbey passed their voluminous collection of documents, spanning over 800 yrs of family history, for safe keeping to The Wiltshire Record Office.
The collection is now stored at the new History Centre at Chippenham in 97 large cardboard boxes, some filled to overflowing, others containing perhaps just 6 ledgers or letter books. Because of its size it was not possible to make a detailed index of the contents at the time of the handover and this is what the group is now doing.
So, what have we found in the Archive?
The earliest records, land deeds in Latin, date from the second half of the 13c. - fortunately these had already been transcribed!! Some concern the founding of the Abbey by Ela, Countess of Salisbury in 1229 and the rules of the Order, others record gifts of land in the hope of future salvation:
Gift in perpetual alms by Geoffrey Burnel for the health of himself and Hawis his wife and the souls of his father and mother his ancestors and successors to Godd, the Abbey of Stanley and the monks there of 10R(oods) of his land of Heiwude…and a meadow called La Ruddemed, etc.
Land surveys dating from 1541 to 1840 not only for Lacock but also of other holdings in Wiltshire, the estates at Liddington, Charlton, and Coate and of manors and properties in Bristol, Devon Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Somerset .
Land Transactions
Grant by Henry Sharington to his brother John Sharington and his wife Agnes of his messuage or tenement called ‘Cannynges tenemente’ with garden adj. and all shops, cellars, solars, hall ‘Conclave’ chambers kitchen and pavements thereto belonging situate in ‘Ratclyf Strete’ in the parish of St. Mary of Ratclyff within the county of the city of Bristol. Dated, signed and sealed.
Over the years several interesting Inventories have been taken at the Abbey , one of 1788 assessing the value of the contents as £1000.
Several owners kept meticulous accounts that throw light on their daily lives, one account book of 1576-1604 mentions the cost of transferring the household of 23 persons from Yorkshire to London - £32.10s, the journey taking 11 days.
Wills: incl. 15 Nov. 1575 Will of Henry Sharington of Lacock, co. Wilts. Knight. With Inventory which details a very richly furnished home, walnut furniture, Turkish carpets, silk cushions and bed hangings.
There is a fascinating series of cookery books, the earliest dated 1685 –most of the recipes being very labour intensive. Of even greater interest is a large collection of remedies, the cure often worse than the complaint!
Lists of tenants, useful to those with an interest in genealogy and family history. The Selfe family, who run Whitehall Garden Centre, are mentioned living at Lacock as early as 1615.
Charitable bequests:
Indenture made the last day of July 36 Eliz. (1594) between the Lady Anne Sharington, of Esdick, co. York, widow, late wife of Sir Henry Sharington --- of the one part and the Mayor and Burgesses of the Borough of Devizes, co. Wilts. on the other. £40 for the poor. ( interesting list of those not eligible.)
Catalogues: incl. Enlarged catalogue of Hazard’s Circulating Library, Cheap St. , Bath 1783. 7000 vols. Subscription 10s. 6d a year or 4s. quarterly.
Sherrington Talbot - his bill 1685/6 dated May 24th, 83 - totaling £38.2.8 for haberdashery - hat bands, etc. and material.
John Talbot c1772. Various bills, including cleaning curtains with talc; cleaning chaise; shoe repairs; furnishings; new and alterations to his clothes including collar alterations to 21 shirts; ruffled shirts, stocks; hire of horses.
Details of family funerals and itemised cost.
Personal letters to relations and friends, HRH the Duke of Kent, Queen Victoria's father, for example
Information about the grounds and gardens. Construction work, design and planting.
And much, much more!! We would welcome some new members. Interested? For more details ring Elizabeth Gibb.
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